Art in Salcey Forest

Contact Linda to be added to the mailing list for events in the forest.

Please note, bearing in mind the current felling operations I have decided to remove some sculptures and resite them next Spring. Currently there are three sculptures to be seen in the forest:
Regeneration II
Found object/Webs
Spirit weave III
I will arrange walks once the sculptures are resited (expected to be Spring 2015). The new sites will probably include some to the west of the current walk to take account of future planned felling work. If you would like details of the walks and other events, please contact me.

I'd like to thank the Forestry Commission once again for their ongoing support and installation of the art walk in Salcey Forest.

The sculptures interact with the forest through the various weather and seasonal changes - do visit at different seasons if you can. See the Art walk guide and map (also available on postcards in the forest) for details of where the sculptures can be found. The following images show where possible recent images from Winter 2012-Spring 2013 (you may like to also see images from July 2011):

Gifts buried near the site of the sculptureThe site of wood spirit II returning to natural forest

Wood spirit II
Ash (found material)
This sculpture was made from the top of a fallen ash tree trimmed and placed upright to represent the antlers of a forest spirit. I added a spiders web as an initial 'gift' for the forest and visitors added their own gifts over the years to make this a wishing tree. Sadly this sculpture has now decayed through the natural effects of time and weather and has finally fallen. I have carefully removed all gifts and buried them nearby, and have cleared the site to return it to a natural part of the forest. See images of the original sculpture.

 

Regeneration II

Regeneration II
Willow
Six willow trees rooted from wood sourced in this area and planted Spring 2013 to grow into three arches.

Please note: Regeneration will be left alongside this new sculpture to decay naturally as though it was a fallen tree.

 

Body weave II

Body weave II
Copper wire
A ghostly figure suspended in this Ash tree.

 

Geodesic weave

Geodesic body weave
Brass wire
An inhabitant of the wood, 'contemplating' beside a stream. This sculpture is 'in process' - the clay of the original former has now fallen away from the brass wire of the final work and the figure is being gradually absorbed into the forest floor.

 

Wood spirit

Fine web

Wood spirit and Webs
Oak (found material); stainless steel wire and glass beads
Regular visitors to this part of the forest may well recognise this particular fallen tree. Working carefully with what already exists I have used woodstain and sanding to subtly emphasise and define the 'spirit' I see when walking here. I have now added nine spider webs in the surrounding trees, woven from stainless steel wire (some incorporate glass beads) - see if you can spot them all!

 

Spirit weave II

Spirit weave II
Stainless steel wire
The 'spirit' of an ash tree emerging from the trunk. Woven using lines of stainless steel wire to represent the patterns of the bark.

 

Dancing figures

Dancing figures (I, II and III with VII, VIII and IX)
Mild steel
There are now nine figures forming part of an installation sculpture which will eventually create a complete circle.
Please note that these figures have been temporarily removed due to damage, however they will be installed in a new location in the Spring.

Lunar

Lunar
Stainless steel wire
Nine spheres joined in a single disc which spins gently in the breeze to suggest the phases of the moon.

 

Body weave III

Body weave III
Copper wire
This sculpture returns to the forest in a new site - hanging from an Oak tree near the previous site of Body weave II (please note this image was not taken in Salcey forest - I'll be replacing it with a new image soon).

Details of the exhibition, guided walks and workshops. (Some images of the original sculptures have been made into Giclee prints).

Getting there
By car:
There are two main car parks in Salcey Forest:
Horse box car park (nearest): parking and information
Cafe car park: parking, information, cafe, children's play area and picnic area

By public transport:
Nearest rail station: Milton Keynes Central or Northampton (see train timetables)
Bus 33 from Northampton or Milton Keynes Central to Hartwell